As the new round started, Karyn didn’t hesitate. “Animal voice: Peacock coming at you, Jon.”
Jon’s eyes flicked up to the next objective. A peacock tail could be argued towards hotness, but their voice was another thing. Two cards to completely cancel a card was a high price to pay, though, especially when he was planning to target himself anyway.
“I’ll allow it. How bad could it SQUAWK! Squa sqawk awk!” Jon’s voice descended into noise. This was certainly not ideal. But he’d already thought of the right way to get rid of it. “Squawk-awk!” He held up the card, Cosmetic, playing it on himself. He also discarded The Sudden Sibs card to cancel the Peacock voice.
Cosmetic was a powerful card. Changes rolled over Jon like the before and after of a photoshop touchup. His hair was perfectly styled and placed. His skin became toned and tanned, and his muscles picked up extra tone. Not enough to really make him noticeable stronger, but everything was more defined, better. Even the swimming trunks had a bit of a glow-up, becoming a tighter, more form fitting pair.
Karyn was sure she had been a shoe-in for the Hottest card, but she knew in her heart that Jon had taken it. The cards floating above their heads agreed, and the glowing light became a bronze bracelet around his arm. They were one-all.
Jon pulled the new objective card. “Hairiest? Oh, come on!”
Karyn grinned. “You can throw in the towel now, Jonny boy. No need to drag this out.”
“I’m trying to come up with some sort of phrase about it not being over yet that won’t get me in the doghouse. But I’ve got nothing. I’ll take my defeat like a man, if it comes to that. But I've only just begun to fight!”
With the objective card drawn, it was time to fill their hands. Jon drew two cards, Role: Barbarian, and Role: Cheerleader. Karen discards her Start Fresh card, as it’s not as helpful for her plan. In return, she draws Outfit: Cheerleader, and Fan Club
- Role: Barbarian: Your outfit becomes hides and furs. You gain a weapon, and you gain the ability to use it. While this form is active, you are very strong, but baffled by any technology and can't understand any written language.
- Role: Cheerleader: Your outfit becomes a Cheer Uniform. You gain acrobatic ability. While in this form, you feel the urge to enthusiastically celebrate victories, especially the ones of your fellow players.
- Outfit: Uniformed: Your outfit becomes that of a specific profession, including accessories.
- Fan Club: You become famous. While this card is active, being noticed in public leads to you drawing a crowd.
Karyn adjusted the cards in her hand. The obvious thing to do would be to ignore the Elected Official Objective, and double down into the animal form. But Jon could be tricky. He liked playing on the edge of his seat, where any card could turn things around, and honestly, he was kind of impressed when his back was against the wall. She needed to go for the kill, quickly, so he couldn’t draw a card to overturn everything. Who knew what was in this deck after all.
Jon, meanwhile, was frowning at his several Role cards he had. One of them was the trump to take out Karyn’s chance at hairiest. But she had a full hand and could easily discard to counter to keep her fur. Was it worth trying to play a role on her that she’d really hate? It would be hard to win if he didn’t. But that was for next round. This round, his move for now was clear.
“I play Person of Business on myself. I’m not sure what the financial asset part is about, but a clean pressed suit and tie, with a little Vote Jon lapel pin is going to have me leading the polls.” Jon focused and the transformation happened as he pictured. The card expanded and fell against him, leaving the suit as patriotic music from some invisible brass band was played.
“Your good looks, money, and fancy suit may put you in the running, but that’s no match for the power of my Fan Club!” Karyn says, holding up the card. She was trying something special with the card’s activation. You could sort of bend reality a little, by focusing on how the card was enacted, and while the card itself didn’t have much pizazz, the secondary effects she was trying for worked perfectly. And as she hoped, there was a knock at the door.
Jon was already standing, and he shot Karyn a suspicious look as he opened the door. It was Zoe, who looked a bit sheepish. “H-hey, Jon. I know you prefer me to not bother you when you're with a client, but I was wondering if, um, I could get an autograph from Karyn?”
Jon turned to look at Karyn, who was looking really smug. He rolled his eyes. “Sure, she’s fine with a quick signing. Zoe started to squeal but stopped herself and took a deep breath. “Thank, Jon, that means a lot.”
Jon opened the door for her and Zoe’s eyes fixated on Karyn. Zoe, interestingly enough, had a random 8x10 glossy photo of Karyn, looking a lot like she was right now. A half wolf cosplay of Sailor Moon. The two began chatting. Jon tuned them out a little, exploring the pockets of his suit. The bronze victory point had merged with the fancy looking watch he was wearing. The pockets were filled with a lot of random business things, which made sense when you considered he had a small case of expensive looking business cards that said “Jon Madison, Person of Business” on them. He pulled one out and stuck it to his bulletin board. It would a neat little souvenir if it hung around, as much as Karyn said everything would revert. He was drawn back to Karyn and Zoe, as she was asking a question.
“So, Zoe. Jon and I were having a little debate, and I wondered if you could settle it for us. Which one of us would be a better candidate for mayor or something.”
Jon silently cursed as he flashed his sister what he hoped was a winning smile. He was in trouble. Karyn’s fan club card took it from a clear win for him to being contested. And asking a person who was in your fan club if they’d vote for you? That sounded like a great way to solicit enthusiastic results from a small demographic. If the game accepted Zoe’s adoration as a vote for Karyn, then he just lost this point.
But Jon had underestimated his sister. Zoe grimaced and looked at Karyn guiltily. “I’m sorry Karyn. I’m your biggest fan, but I don’t think you’d get votes outside of your fan club. Jon, though, he’s got the money to finance the campaign, and he just fits the image better. I’d vote you, obviously, but if I was betting between the pair of you, my money would be on him, sorry!”
Jon smirked as the objective descended and became a silver accent to his watch. Karyn pouted, then laughed. She posed for a final selfie with her fan and finally they were alone and the game could continue.
“I should have made Mikey my fan. Kids that young don’t have critical thinking skills.”
“We could ask him. I’m sure being snubbed by both my siblings won’t be too hurtful. By the way, the next objective is ‘Transformation Impossible: The point goes to the person who would be most able to acquire an important secret.’ Luckily, I’m already dressed like a secret agent. The objective flew up to join the others.
Jon decides to trash his Barbarian card and draws Animal Feet and Animal Voice. Karyn sees too much potential in her hand and decides to not discard. She draws A New Normal. Which she reads, then reads again, thinks for a bit, then reads the card for a third time before really understanding what it says. A smile slowly grows across her face.
- A New Normal: Your base form is set to your current details. For the purposes of this and future games, your current details are considered your base form
